"Did you just say that you saw Rued again in the otherworld?" Oswald asked Eivor, confused at what he just heard.
A couple of months ago, they had killed Rued after he had gatecrashed their wedding when he escaped from captivity during the events of East Anglia and Oswald's coronation. Now Eivor had just told him that the same Dane warrior from months ago was alive in a different norse realm. Oswald had to make sure what he heard was right and that he wasn't imagining things.
"Yes I know it sounds hard to believe and very bizarre but I did" Eivor confirmed to a confused looking Oswald.
"How?" Oswald frowned looking back in even more confusion at Eivor.
"If you listen, I will explain. Sit tight. It's a bit of a story" she said looking back at Oswald who was listening intently and staring back at her.
Half an hour earlier, Eivor was travelling round the realm of Swarvflenheim when she happened to stumble upon the valkyrie Kara and her arena.
"Hello Kara" Eivor said, addressing the Valkyrie. "What is it you do here?" She asked curiously looking around the barren mountain. All she could see was rocks, rocks and more grey rocks and the blue sky and clouds ahead of them. There didn't seem to be anything of interest nearby.
"Hello Eivor, or should I say Havi?" the Valkyrie addressed Eivor. "I run an arena where you fight foes and enemies that are different to your average muspel. If you want a change and some practice for the big boss I highly recommend you try some of the activities here" she explained smiling back to Eivor.
"You can just call me Eivor, no need for fancy names and do you? That sounds interesting. I'm up for that. Do you have anything interesting in mind that I could try - I'll take your suggestion, I could do with a break from the muspels" Eivor chuckled back at Kara .
Kara smiled back warm and friendly. "Sure I do, I have one in mind actually. He's an old foe who previously betrayed you but ended up here. I could use some entertainment actually". As she led Eivor to the arena
Eivor froze and almost stopped in her tracks with those words. Old foe? Who betrayed her? Who was this? She only had two people in her mind it was either Dag or Basim. As she had denied Dag Valhalla after they fought in Ravensthorpe and Basim - he had betrayed her . What if he failed to get to Valhalla through the Ygarsdill simulator? And was now hanging around in Swarvflenheim instead. No it was Dag. Surely it was Dag. A million thoughts were swirling round Eivor's mind while they walked. Before she could dwell any longer. A Man called her out, disrupting her thoughts on who it could be.
It was a dane warrior who had a white wolf in tow. It was Rued of East Anglia. It couldn't be . Eivor had watched him bleed dry along with Oswald with their two eyes at the wedding . What was he doing here? How could he even be alive? Was she going crazy? She rather it be Dag at this point or even Basim, Rued was the last person she wanted to see.
"Eivor wolf kissed!" he shouted, greeting her as Eivor sighed and rolled her eyes for the taunts to come. "How nice it is to see you again!" he waved his arms in the air chuckling
"Not you again Rued" she grunted unimpressed. "You shouldn't be here" she replied annoyed
"And why not?" he said in that annoying voice of his. "You were the one who damned me to Nifleheim and every realm besides Valhalla" he shrugged reminding her
"I know, you don't need to remind me" she snapped gritting her teeth
Rued chuckled a bit seeing Eivor worked up. She had not changed at all, still getting wound up at his voice and taunts.
"And how is little sheep doing - Is he still the King of East Anglia?" he asked, teasing and curious.
This infuriated Eivor. How dare he call Oswald a little sheep? After all that he had done for East Anglia. No no, she would not let him get to her. That's what he wanted after all. Barely holding in her anger and thinning patience she answered.
"He is not called Little sheep, he is called Oswald and he is my husband and the King of East Anglia" she replied bluntly fighting every urge she had to just kill him so he would shut up once and for all
"Still married to that little twine I see" he laughed mocking her. "And what of my sweet Valdis, how is she doing?" he asked laughing
Eivor hated how he called Valdis his little sweet thing still despite everything that had happened. It was disgusting how he thought that he was still married to her with everything he had done.
"She is doing good, away from you. We all are only for you to come back here" Eivor spat back at him disgust and venom evident in her voice.
"I see I haven't been missed very much then" he said pouting back at her in a almost pathetic way like a child would do during a tantrum, only it was Rued doing that.
"No and I cannot wait to smash your face in. I've had it with you" She barked at Rued.
He snickered and laughed at her "As you wish, wolf kissed as you wish" he sneered getting ready with his sword as Eivor readied her fists and her weapons for Round 3 with Rued.
With his fingers to his lips, Rued whistled for his white wolf - Rabid Wolf as he was called to attack Eivor while he attacked her from the sides with his sword. The wolf barked and clawed at Eivor as she dodged from side to side dodging its attacks. There was something different about this fight, it was harder and tougher than in England. Rued had grown stronger since and Eivor was getting knocked down to the ground just like Oswald once was. Rued had started to notice this too.
"Gone weak because of the sheep herder wolf kissed?" he chuckled menacingly
"No! I have not gone weak because of Oswald!" Eivor yelled as she got up and parried at Rued. It was like a tug of war between the two in strength, one that Eivor was losing at.
"Are you sure about that because it sure looks like you are struggling to keep up" he chuckled with his big evil laugh at Eivor which annoyed her so much.
"I am damn sure and I will make sure you stay dead for the sake of everyone!" she snapped back at him even more determined.
"Did you think it would be so easy wolf kissed? Killing me? You were so foolish to think that I was dead. And while you have been softened in the hay by sheep shit I have been improving myself and you, You've gone weak like him" he goaded and taunted her
This was the last straw and the turning point for Eivor. She had enough of Rued and his insulting taunts about her and Oswald. It was time to fight back and get the respect that they so badly needed. With a roar, Eivor switched to her fire weapons and started slicing mercilessly and stomping at Rued.
All Rued could do was stare back at her in shock and in immense pain. He was so stunned he couldn't speak. All he could feel was the burning pain in his back . As she punched and stabbed Eivor screamed "One for East Anglia, One for Valdis, One for Oswald and One for me!" before he collapsed with a final scream as the flames burnt his back and entire body into a black charred mess.
His wolf ran into the flame, wailing and whimpering as it knelt beside it's owner before it too burned into black cinders along with it's owner. It stayed loyal even to its death, Eivor thought as she stared at the scene as it unfolded in front of her.
Kara, noticing what had happened, ran over to Eivor. "What a fight and what a warrior!" she yelled, greeting Eivor excitedly. "You have beaten the traitor once and for all" she said, referring to Rued.
"I have," Eivor answered, looking back at her. "There is something I must do". She looked at Kara wanting some space.
"Understood, I will be outside if you ever need me or want another fight" she smiled before leaving Eivor on her own.
Eivor walked over to the charred black remains of Rued and his pet wolf nearby before kneeling over to Rued's body.
"You were wrong about one thing, Oswald did not make me weak nor did I become weaker, I still fight and train regularly when my clan needs me while being with Oswald. I have also upgraded my weapons and skills at Gunnar's forge , a pity you did not realise until you were burning and screaming to death" she muttered grimly, taking one last look at Rued's charred remains before walking off.
"I must get going" Eivor explained to Kara outside the arena
"That is a shame. I really enjoyed seeing you fight, Going so soon? Don't you want another fight you can get rewards from my shop" she asked and persuaded trying to get Eivor to stay.
"Yes unfortunately. I've also had enough for a day. I might come back soon. Right now my husband needs me. He's waiting for me. As you might of heard from Rued's jabbering" Eivor said referring to Rued's taunts in the arena earlier.
Kara nodded understanding. "Here is 60 tokens from the fight you just had, come back to me and my shop anytime you want to fight and buy things, I'll be here" She smiled informing Eivor.
"Thanks and I will do, soon" Eivor smiled back as she pocketed the tokens ready to use and explore in another time and another run to Swarvflenheim. Right now Oswald was her priority and she needed to get back.
"So that was it?" Oswald raised his eyebrows, surprised that was all there was to the story.
"Yes darling, he is gone now don't worry I watched him burn with my eyes and he didn't get up either" Eivor chuckled, slapping Oswald on the back and reassuring him.
"That's good, I'm glad he's dead for real this time so there won't be a part 4 of him coming back to East Anglia and terrorising us" Oswald sighed relieved that his worries had been put to rest
"Of course. There won't be. I made sure of that." Eivor smiled at him.
Oswald smiled back at her, putting his hands on hers. "I believe you. I love you".
"I love you too, just me and you now". Eivor smiled back at her husband. Rued was now gone for ever and they didn't need to worry about him anymore ever again.